The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-02-09
j. +. SESSIONS,
J. G. KYLE, Commissioners.
WM. MCWnLIE,
FoR Tue CLARION
Increase of Illiteraey The Blair
Bill.

The figures in the compendium of the
Tenth Census in the second volume show
that the illiteracy of the couhtry has in
creased from 1000. 900 illiterates in 1870 to
G, 600, 900 in 1880. That is am increase of
fifty per cent.-a startling and menaeng
fact. II shows that the States, unaided,
are unable 10 cope with the mass of litter
acy, and that he p from some source is
necessity. In this emergency We must
look to the national government.
But we are told this is unconstitutional,
undemocratic, that il is "forsaking the
principles OF the fathers for money" A
few petrifed statesmen and wouldbe
solons have SO asserted, but they have not
read the history of this country. We all
know that the Presidents, from Washington
down, have urged the necessity of educat-
ing the people. 1t is we'll known that
Congress has from time to time made
grants OF land to the States for school pur-
poses. Further, in 1886, there was large
sum in the Treasury OF the United States
chiefly derived from the sale of public
lands, which was not needed for the current
expense of the general government, and
law was approved June 23d, which pro-
vided for distribution of the surplus
among the then twenty-five States of the
Union on the basis Of their respective rep
TS-SHtdiiOI III 1OUSFtsS. MS WAS
the administration of Andrew Jackson
was it undemocratic
Some of the best informed and most
patriotic men in the South have urged the
passage of the Blair bill. Dr. Orr, the able
State Superintendent Of Georgia, says: 81
prefer the Blair bill above all others. /
am for il because it is liberal in the
amount appropriated +; because it proposes
to furnish aid only for a time, leaving the
States in the end TO carry forward their
own educational work because it PROVIDE
for the application of the money to the
support Of common schools, and to the
better training of the teachers of those
schools because it provides the least OBJ
jectionable mode of governmental sdper-
vision, looking to the securing of the
proper and legal application OF the funds
provided, to be made under State laws and
by the regularly constituted State authori-
ties
The Blair bill provides for separate
schools for white and colored children, and
the Secretary of the Interior is the officer
who is to distribute the funds to the differ
ent States and Territories, and to whom
report il to be made of the faithful appli-
cation of the fund. The only guarantee
that the government requires is that the
fund shall be faithfully administered
The Georgia Legislature has repeatedly
memorialized Congress on this subject OF
national aid to the schools. The last
North Carolina Legislature by vote OF Al
to / expressed itself in favor of the Blair
bill. The Virginia Legislature last year
urged the passage of the Blair bill, and in
| the light Of all the facts and in view of the
| frighttul increase OF illiteracy, the man
who opposes this measure of relief is a
public enemy, and we'll deserves his politi-
cal winding sheet. In asking for the pas
sage Of this bill, the South does not stand
az beggar at the door of this nation. 1t
| is but Just and right that it should be done.
/ The negro was our property, and the
| United States Government freed him and
endowed him with citizenship, and now
every principle of right and justice de-
paands that the nation should help the
South to fit the negro to exercise the right
that has been conferred upon him. Says
| Dr. Mayo: 81 believe constitutions were
made for men, and / further believe this
| American Union will hold together only
while public necessity in the most re-
mote corner Of the land ia felt to be the
| public obligation of the whole American
people" A u L.